A look at the finalists for the 10th annual Semoball Awards

The field of finalists is set for the 10th annual Semoball Awards.

Southeast Missouri’s marquee event to recognize the best of the best in high school sports will be held Friday, July 14 at La Croix Church in Cape Girardeau.

The evening features awards for 21 individual sport categories and top awards, including: Sportsmanship Award, Comeback Athlete of the Year, Coach of the Year, The Bank of Missouri Male and Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, and the SoutheastHEALTH Male and Female Athlete of the Year.

An award for the best fans will recognize the school with the most active fan base as determined by an online vote. And 10-time state champion basketball coach and Missouri Sports Hall of Fame member Lennis McFerren will be honored with the Semoball Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.

“This is one of the most exciting night of the year,” said Southeast Missourian assistant publisher Lucas Presson. “There’s so much talent in Southeast Missouri high school sports. We’ve had honorees go on to successfully compete in college and some even start careers in professional sports. But for many, the Semoball Awards is a special way to end their sports career. It’s simply an amazing night and a special memory for the athletes, their families and guests.”

The event features a celebrity keynote speaker with some of the biggest names in sports having made appearances. Previous speakers include: two-time ESPY winner Kyle Maynard, softball great Jennie Finch, NFL player and TV analyst Mark Schlereth, World Series MVP David Eckstein, WNBA player Lisa Leslie, former pitcher and current broadcaster Rick Horton, former MLB relief pitcher Andrew Miller and comedian Mike Goodwin.

Dan Meers will take the stage this year. Meers is most known as KC Wolf, the affable mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs. He will share his incredible story of overcoming obstacles, including when he survived a stunt-gone-wrong at Arrowhead Stadium.

“We know Dan for his fun stunts during Chiefs games, but his story is really much more than what you see on Sundays,” Presson said. “You don’t want to miss his keynote talk Friday at the Semoball Awards. It’s inspiring.”

Tickets are available for purchase at semoball.com/awards and cost $40 for general admission and $100 for VIP, which includes reserved seating and a meet-and-greet reception with the keynote speaker.

Tickets for athletes are complimentary, and parents can purchase two discounted tickets with a promo code that was included in the athlete’s invitation. Those needing the promo code resent can request it by contact Jamie Phillips at jphillips@rustmedia.com or by calling 573-388-3867.

The Semoball Awards are presented by SoutheastHEALTH and supported by The Bank of Missouri (Official Bank Sponsor), SEMO ESPN Radio, the St. Louis Cardinals, rustmedia and your local newspapers.

FINALISTS

Boys Cross Country

Ben Dowdy, Dexter

Reed Layton, Woodland

Calvin Layton, Woodland

Mason Morris, Notre Dame

Caleb Ricker, Van Buren

Jaxson Houf, Van Buren

Bryce Gentry, Jackson

Ryan Seabaugh, Cape Central

Brock Hobeck, Oak Ridge

Jackson Unterreiner, St. Vincent

Girls Cross Country

Lauren Eftink, Notre Dame

Kinslee VanderMierden, Leopold

Kendal Marshall, Oak Ridge

Faith Rouggly, Woodland

Ella Harris, Bernie

Kastin Cleaver, Van Buren

Ziah Been, Van Buren

Emma Niedbalski, Jackson

Molly Turner, Notre Dame

Kaitlyn Nichols, East Carter

Girls Tennis

Claire Bean/Handley McAtee, Kennett/Holcomb

Kaitlyn Booker, Poplar Bluff

Suna Mingee/Vita Galati, Notre Dame

Megan Maxton/Maria Mijangos, Cape Central

Margaret Hillin/Abigail Haley, Saxony Lutheran

Boys Swimming

Phineas Theall, Cape Central

Wade LaValle, Jackson

Tim DeYong, Jackson

Carson Todd, Poplar Bluff

Tom Hasz, Saxony Lutheran

Volleyball

Alexis Hoffman, Advance

Nadia Wasilewski, Jackson

Amiyah Saxton, Portageville

Josey Wahlers, Saxony Lutheran

Brinley Cowart, Clarkton

Elle Vancil, Kennett

Carly Long, Dexter

Kaylee Ashabranner, Gideon

Elizabeth Callis, Holcomb

Tori Rubel, Notre Dame

Boys Soccer

Will Dodson, Notre Dame

Tim Kirby, Cape Central

Josh McClendon, Sikeston

Aaron Zoelner, Saxony Lutheran

Jace Boland, Saxony Lutheran

Carson Adams, Perryville

Cole Bruenderman, Notre Dame

Tad Couch, Cape Central

Sam Cairns, Cape Central

Max Richey, Saxony Lutheran

Football Offense

Jamarion Smith, Portageville

Mark Panagos, Scott City

Zaire Thomas, Cape Central

Jadis Jones, NMCC

Chris Grissom, NMCC

Reece Eftink, Kelly

Daniel Boatman, Kennett

Christian Schaaf, St. Vincent

Morgan Diamond, Cape Central

Isaiah Davis, Jackson

Football Defense

Tony Terry, Jackson

Logan Hite, Poplar Bluff

BJ Williamson, NMCC

Rommie Turner, Charleston

Trent Lathum, Scott City

Marshall Rodgers, Kennett

Mason Adams, Portageville

Gavin Price, Kelly

Drake Robinson, St. Vincent

Clayton McClard, Cape Central

Boys Basketball

Cam Williams, Cape Central

Jadis Jones, New Madrid County Central

Rico Coleman, Charleston

PJ Farmer, Charleston

Dontrez Williams, Sikeston

BJ Williamson, New Madrid County Central

Clayton Ernst, Jackson

Cole Nichols, Dexter

Luke Barnes, Cooter

Isaiah Rodgers, Caruthersville

Girls Basketball

Katie Waller, Jackson

Tori Rubel, Notre Dame

Taylor Horton, Cape Central

Kaetlyn Danley, Holcomb

Landri Hammontree, Sikeston

Mallary Barks, Woodland

Brooklyn Kearbey, East Carter

Kenzie Redus, Doniphan

Haley Webb, Oran

Presley Holweg, Delta

Boys’ Wrestling

Gavyn Colbert, New Madrid County Central

Ty Blakey, New Madrid County Central

Eric Harmon, Dexter

Lucas Robertson, Poplar Bluff

Logan Hite, Poplar Bluff

Ethan Jackson, Notre Dame

Gavin Hicks, Jackson

Landon Vassalli, Jackson

Tyler Beyatte, Jackson

Griffin Horman, Jackson

Girls’ Wrestling

Niah Hopkins, Cape Central

Gracie Metzger, Jackson

Mallorie Metzger, Jackson

Emma Steimle, Notre Dame

Kayleigh Dazey, Poplar Bluff

Zoë Freeman, Poplar Bluff

Ellie Douglass, Sikeston

Jasmynne Green, Sikeston

Liliana Knoeppel, Sikeston

Alayna Ray, Sikeston

Girls Swimming

Ava Walters, Jackson

Addison Ringwald, Cape Central

Sydney Ringwald, Cape Central

Marianne Dean, Cape Central

Tommy-Anne Marriott, Cape Central

Baseball

Caden Bogenpohl, Jackson

Carter Crosnoe, Cape Central

Levi McKinnie, Chaffee

John-Paul Sauer, Jackson

Hayden Nazarenus, Cooter

Kolten Payne, Oran

Peyton Hodges, East Prairie

Trey Benthal, Portageville

Tanner Pierce, Kennett

Thomas Frakes, Portageville

Softball

Handley McAtee, Kennett

Rachel Rommel, Malden

Ashlynn Presley, Risco

Molly Spane, Oran

Tori Stinnett, East Prairie

Maleigh Lemings, Holcomb

Ainsley Burnett, Notre Dame

Kylie Walker, Senath-Hornersville

Mallory Lemonds, Kelly

Dixie Cloud, Neelyville

Boys’ Track & Field

DJ Williams, Charleston

Ryan Seabaugh, Cape Central

William Gaines-Parker, Kennett

Darius Graham, Poplar Bluff

Hunter Wendel, Jackson

Cole Bruenderman, Notre Dame

Anistin Kyle, Dexter

Ja’Kwon Jones, NMCC

Rylan Bell, Malden

Kent Sheridan, Cape Central

Girls’ Track & Field

Angela Dobbins, Malden

Laura Eftink, Notre Dame

Kirsten Fairhurst, Sikeston

Kennedy Zgaynor, Poplar Bluff

Ki Bogan, Cape Central

Elle Vancil, Kennett

Claire Nichols, Charleston

Lillian Gibbs, Jackson

Reese Steward, Sikeston

Boys’ Golf

Benjamin Christian, Dexter

Noah Cunningham, Senath-Hornersville

Michael Hasz, Saxony Lutheran

Ian Lambert, Jackson

Lawson Barks, Poplar Bluff

Girls’ Golf

Alana Gilbert, Jackson

Elizabeth Barnette, Notre Dame

Olivia Thetford, Poplar Bluff

Paige Compardo, Notre Dame

Alyssa Warren, Dexter

Girls’ Soccer

Justi Nelson, Jackson

Emilia Wunderlich, Jackson

Anna Mueller, Saxony

Ava Perry, Saxony

Demi Drum, Cape Central

Lana Adams, St. Vincent

Kristen Grogan, Kelly

Olivia Carda-Smith, Poplar Bluff

Nevaeh Larkins, Poplar Bluff

Kristin Anderson, Notre Dame

Boys’ Tennis

Charlie West, Notre Dame

Elijah Peters/Eann Ray Gardner, Cape Central

Peyton Boles/Lawson Blocker, Dexter

Eli Youngblood/Thomas Southard, Notre Dame

Angelo Sorrentino, Poplar Bluff

Comeback Player of the Year

Emilia Wunderlich, Jackson

Chris Stone, Dexter

Tyson Underwood, Scott City

Tanner Pierce, Kennett

Ethan Graham, Kelly

Coach of the Year

Josh Roach, Jackson

Gregg Holifield, Sikeston

Kory Thoma, Jackson

Justin Hutchings, Charleston

Kent Gibbs, Cape Central

Male Scholar-Athlete

Bennett Logan, Charleston

Thomas Frakes, Portageville

Tanner Slinkard, Oak Ridge

Preston Goodnight, Neeyville

Tanner Pierce, Kennett

Drew Klipfel, Kelly

Sam Cairns, Cape Central

Kennett Rampley, Bell City

Lucas Robertson, Poplar Bluff

Female Scholar-Athlete

Samyiah Wheeler, Charleston

Erin Urhahn, Oak Ridge

Ella Eaker, Neelyville

Sophie Boone, Kennett

Aleya King, Kelly

Megan Maxton, Cape Central

Maggie Hillin, Saxony Lutheran

Madilyn Asher, Bell City

Kaylee King, Ellington

Sydney Kramer, Poplar Bluff

Ashlynn Presley, Risco

Sportsmanship

Libbey Callis, Holcomb

Chase Venable, Scott City

John-Paul Sauer, Jackson

Abby Morrison, Oak Ridge

Samuel Tyler, Sikeston

Note: Each athlete named a finalist in one of the above categories is also a finalist for the SoutheastHEALTH Male and Female Athlete of the Year Awards.